As long as they can intercept Gu Ran for even half a second, Atletico Madrid's defense line will be able to catch up and strangle Gu Ran.

However, Gu Ran did not slow down at all, and he passed the ball directly on the penalty area line! The Atletico goalkeeper was knocked to the ground by the fake!

Gu Ran calmly dribbled the ball past the Atletico goalkeeper and rushed directly towards the unguarded goal!

Facing the empty goal, Gu Ran volleyed the ball with great force! The football penetrated the goal, stirred the net, and even the goalposts vibrated!

Ronaldinho-style pendulum pass! The ball goes in! The referee blows the whistle, indicating that the goal is valid!

The score on the big screen was immediately changed to Atletico Madrid 2:4 Southampton! Gu Ran's brilliant goal completely killed the suspense of the game! This was also Gu Ran's first European game, and also the first time that Gu Ran completed a hat trick in a European game!

Although there were still 4 minutes of injury time, you have to know that Southampton's defense is not much worse than Atletico's, especially when their physical fitness and confrontation are obviously a level higher than Atletico's! It can be said that Atletico has no chance! The Southampton fans at the scene cheered wildly!

The Atletico Madrid fans at the scene were stunned, holding their heads, unable to believe the score.

Head coach Simeone even sighed to the sky.

His theory was correct and Atletico's players were also positive, but his most fatal problem was that he encountered Southampton, which had Gu Ran.

Fortunately, this game is only the first round of the group round-robin. Even if we lose, there is still a second round. Even if we can't get first place in the group, there is still a chance to get second place in the group.

The game continues.

Atletico's players on the field took the initiative to launch an attack.

However, their attack was not sharp. Apart from relying on the triangle of Fran, Aguero and Diego Costa, they basically had no other purely offensive means. They also lacked the strategy of tearing apart Southampton's formation through defensive counterattacks. It was impossible to open Southampton's goal by just brute force.

During the injury time, Southampton also defended with all their might.

Coach Adkins used the substitution method again to delay time tactically.

Beep, beep, beep—

The referee blew the whistle to end the game!

Finally, in the first round of the Europa League Group G, Southampton, playing away, defeated Atletico Madrid by two goals and took away 3 points! At the same time, another match in Group G had also ended.

Lille, a strong team from French Ligue 1, drew 1:1 with the visiting Polish team Lesz Poznan at their home ground.

As a result, the standings of Group G are that Southampton ranks first with 3 points, Lille and Les Poznan are tied for second and third place, while Atletico Madrid, which was originally the strongest team, has no points and is currently ranked fourth in the group.

At the end of the game, Aguero took the initiative to find Gu Ran, shook hands with him, and exchanged jerseys with him.

Simeone also took the initiative to hug Gu Ran and congratulate him.

Gu Ran followed his teammates in thanking the team and then returned to the player tunnel.

As soon as he entered the passage, agent Mendes came up to him with a smile and gave Gu Ran a big hug, "Gu! You played so beautifully in today's game! Did you know that many scouts and bosses from other teams are watching in the box today? Your value will definitely skyrocket this time!"

Gu Ran smiled and said, "Mendez, don't be so exaggerated. This is just an ordinary game."

Gu Ran said quickly: "No, I have to take a chartered plane back to Southampton with the team to prepare for the next game."

Mendes smiled and said, "Don't worry, it's just a matter of chartering a plane. With your current status in the football world, if you just shout, there will be countless wealthy and powerful people lining up to charter a plane for you! As for your team's affairs, please forgive me for making my own decisions for you. I have already told old Rice in advance that you are the big boss of Southampton. If you don't go back with the team after playing, who dares to say anything?"

Gu Ran was suddenly at a loss for words, "Mendez, you... well, what do you want to do?"

Mendes said mysteriously: "I told you, I'll give you a surprise! I promise you'll like it."

Surprise... What the hell is a surprise?

Gu Ran said helplessly: "Well, since you said so, I will stay in Madrid for one night."

Mendes smiled happily and said, "Great! I have booked a hotel for you. It is the presidential suite of the tallest seven-star hotel in Madrid. You don't have to worry about the overnight fee. Someone will pay for it for you. All you have to do is follow me now."

Gu Ran said quickly, "Now? Stop it. I have to go back to the locker room to celebrate with my teammates, listen to Coach Adkins' post-match summary, take a shower, get a massage, and get dressed before I can leave with you."

Mendes quickly said, "Okay, okay, I'll wait for you at the door."

Gu Ran smiled and said, "It will take at least an hour. You should go to the underground garage and wait for me. I know your car. I will go to the garage to find you after I am done."

Mendes frowned a little worriedly.

Gu Ran smiled and said, "Why, you really don't trust me? Can I stand you up?"

Mendes quickly put on a smile and said, "No, no, no, why would I be afraid that you would stand me up? We are friends. I'm just worried... Gu, this is Madrid after all. Apart from me, you'd better not contact anyone else."

Gu Ran smiled and said, "Okay, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Mendes finally breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good, that's good! I'll wait for you in the garage."

Mendes hugged Gu Ran again, watched Gu Ran walk into the visiting team's locker room, and then turned and walked towards the garage.

Gu Ran took a shower and completed physical therapy in the locker room, put on his clothes, said a brief goodbye to his teammates and head coach Adkins, then walked out of the locker room, preparing to meet up with Mendes in the garage.

As soon as I turned the corner, a man in a staff uniform came up to me with a smile.

"Hello Mr. Gu Ran, can I take a few minutes of your time?"

Gu Ran didn't think much about it and took out the pen he carried with him. "No problem. Where do you want to sign?"

The staff member silently took out a contract from his pocket.

Gu Ran: ...

The staff member smiled and said, "Well, that's indeed too abrupt. Mr. Gu Ran, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Andre Curry, and I am a former scout for the Brazilian market of Barcelona. I have just been transferred back to the headquarters to oversee the scout affairs of the entire Barcelona."

Andre Curry? The legendary scout who signed Neymar to Barcelona? Gu Ran's eyes suddenly lit up! ... (End of this chapter)